Device and method for calibrating communication module

Abstract

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention can comprise: a housing; a first antenna element positioned inside the housing or at a first position thereof; a second antenna element positioned inside the housing or at a second position separated from the first position thereof; and a wireless communication circuit positioned inside the housing and electrically coupled to the first antenna element and the second antenna element. The wireless communication circuit comprises: a wireless modem; a source RF circuit electrically connected to the wireless modem, and configured to generate an IF signal; and a second RF circuit positioned at a fourth position closer to the second position than to the first position, wherein: each of the first RF circuit and the second RF circuit is configured to alternately receive an IF signal for transmitting a transmitted signal via the first antenna element and the second antenna element, and includes a first electrical path between the source RF circuit and the second RF circuit, a second electrical path between the source RF circuit and the second RF circuit, and a third electrical path between the first RF circuit and the second RF circuit; the first RF circuit, while being electrically blocked from the first antenna element, is configured to form at least a portion of a first loopback path from the first RF circuit to the source RF circuit through the third electrical path and the second electrical path; and the second RF circuit, while being electrically blocked from the second antenna element, can be configured to form at least a portion of a second loopback path from the second RF circuit to the source RF circuit through the third electrical path and the first electrical path. Additional other embodiments are also possible.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a first communication device including a first antenna array; 
 a second communication device including a second antenna array; 
 a source radio frequency (RF) circuit; 
 a first connection member configured to electrically connect the source RF circuit and the first communication device; 
 a second connection member configured to electrically connect the source RF circuit and the second communication device; 
 a third connection member configured to electrically connect the first communication device and the second communication device; and 
 a wireless modem electrically connected with the source RF circuit, 
 wherein the source RF circuit is configured to transmit a first signal received from the wireless modem, to the first communication device via the first connection member, 
 wherein the first communication device is configured to transmit a second signal to the second communication device via the third connection member, the second signal corresponding a signal that the first signal passes through the first connection member, 
 wherein the second communication device is configured to transmit a third signal to the source RF circuit via the second connection member, the third signal corresponding a signal that the second signal passes through the third connection member, 
 wherein the source RF circuit is configured to transmit the third signal received from the second communication device, to the wireless modem, and 
 wherein the wireless modem is configured to:
 compare the first signal and the third signal, and 
 perform calibration on the first communication device based on a result of comparing the first signal and the third signal. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless modem is further configured to perform the calibration, by comparing a phase and amplitude of the first signal and a phase and amplitude of the third signal. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication device further comprises at least one of a first switch arranged to correspond to a receive path of the first communication device, a second switch, a third switch, a plurality of transmission and/or reception sub circuits comprised in a transmission and/or reception circuit, a combiner, a divider, a reception mixer, a transmission mixer, and a filter,
 the second communication device comprises a fourth switch, a fifth switch, a sixth switch, a plurality of transmission and/or reception sub circuits comprised in a transmission and/or reception circuit, a combiner, a divider, a reception mixer, a transmission mixer, and a filter, and 
 each of the transmission and/or reception sub circuits in the first and second communication devices comprises at least one of a power amplifier (PA), a phase shifter (PS), a phase shifter drive amplifier (PSDA), and a pre power amplifier (PPA) which are arranged in a transmit path, and comprise at least one of a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a PS which are arranged in a receive path. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the third connection member is configured to comprise:
 a first path corresponding to a section from the third switch to the second switch; 
 a second path corresponding to a section from the second switch to the fifth switch; and 
 a third path corresponding to a section from the fifth switch to the fourth switch. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein
 the second switch is configured to connect the first communication device and the second communication device, 
 the third switch is arranged to correspond to a transmit path of the first communication device, 
 the fourth switch is arranged to correspond to a receive path of the second communication device, 
 the fifth switch is configured to connect the first communication device and the second communication device, and 
 the sixth switch is configured to correspond to a transmit path of the second communication device. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the second path, the first connection member, and the second connection member correspond to one of a coaxial cable or a flexible PCB (FPCB). 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless modem is further configured to transmit a control signal to the first switch to the sixth switch. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the first switch to the sixth switch are changed from a first state to a second state by receiving the control signal. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first state corresponds to a state for activating a path for signal transmission and/or reception with an external device, and
 the second state corresponds to a state for activating a path for calibration within the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing comprising the wireless modem, the source RF circuit, the first communication device, the second communication device, the first connection member, the second connection member, and the third connection member, and 
 a printed circuitry board (PCB) arranged inside the housing, 
 wherein the source RF circuit and the wireless modem are arranged on the PCB arranged inside the housing, 
 wherein the first communication device is arranged at a first position of a remaining region excepting the PCB, inside the housing, and 
 wherein the second communication device is arranged at a second position of the remaining region excepting the PCB, inside the housing, wherein the second position is different from the first position. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication device further comprises first switches of a number corresponding to a number of a plurality of transmission and/or reception sub circuits and a combiner positioned between the switches and a second switch, and
 wherein the first switches are configured to be positioned between the plurality of transmission and/or reception sub circuits and the first antenna array. 
 
     
     
       12. A method performed by an electronic device including a first communication device including a first antenna array, a second communication device including a second antenna array, a source radio frequency (RF) circuit, a first connection member connecting the source RF circuit and the first communication device, a second connection member connecting the source RF circuit and the second communication device, and a third connection member connecting the first communication device and the second communication device, the method comprising:
 providing a first signal; 
 transmitting the first signal to the first communication device via the first connection member; 
 providing a second signal by the first communication device, the second signal corresponding a signal that the first signal passes through the first connection member; 
 transmitting the second signal to the second communication device via the third connection member; 
 providing a third signal by the second communication device, the third signal is a signal that the second signal passes through the third connection member; 
 transmitting the third signal to the source RF circuit via the second connection member; 
 comparing the first signal and the third signal; and 
 performing calibration on the first communication device based on a result of comparing the first signal and the third signal. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the calibration is performed by comparing a phase and amplitude of the first signal and a phase and amplitude of the third signal.